Toyota Surf MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 30 model years and 2,125 tests, the Toyota Surf passes its MOT 75.1% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 26.6% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, service brake performance and ball joint — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 145 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Surf fails 26.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 24.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Surf model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 69 | 60.9% | 39.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 51 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 87 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 76 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 340 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 426 | 77.7% | 22.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 447 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 249 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 119 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 57 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 315 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 238 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 218 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 178 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.6% | 76 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 76 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 72 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 145 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 106 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 100 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 90 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 84 |
| 6 | Joints | 83 |
| 7 | Wipers | 69 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 42.2% | 897 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 24.5% | 521 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 473 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 466 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.9% | 338 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.1% | 300 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 64 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 200 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 373 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,462 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,041 | 24.6% |
| Petrol | 84 | 32.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 545 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 486 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 410 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 363 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 321 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Surf
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Surf?
75.1% of the 2,125 Toyota Surf MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.9% fail rate, across model years 1991–2020.
What does the Toyota Surf most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, then suspension (11.2%).
How much does mileage affect Surf MOT results?
Fail rates run at 26.6% for cars in the 60-90k band and 24.8% for 150k+, a 1.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,125 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.